New Hampton Tribune

Being chosen brings back memories for Grand Marshals

Thu, 06/16/2016 - 5:00pmBrittany

Couple has been involved with Nashua celebration for years

Tom and Lucille Cronin have been named the Grand Marshalls for the Water over the Dam Days celebration.
The Cronin’s have been long time residents of Nashua and being chosen for this honor brings back so many memories for the couple.
“Kim asked and we said yes,” said Tom. It was that simple when it came down to it but the couple is honored to be part of the long celebration weekend. They have been involved with the celebrations throughout the years and have been committee members in the past.
Even though the couple did not always live in Nashua, this has always been their home since they were married in 1964. Tom worked at First Nashua State Bank for 40 years until it became Lincoln Savings Bank. Lucille was a homemaker and they had three children John, Julie and Jane. They are also proud of their six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
They were very involved with the Nashua community and in many different groups and now enjoy their time golfing and spending time with their family and friends.
Water over the Dam Days is a special occasion for the Cronin’s since they remember when the 1963 flooding damaged the operation of the hydroelectric power plant and it was discontinued by the Iowa Public Service Company. In 1982 the last control gate broke and the dam was no longer functional and the lake dried up.
Lucille said, “People were moving out of town but came back after the lake was filled.”
The Cronin’s were one of many residents and businesses in Nashua who started to raise money for the restoration of the dam. Even though it took years to raise the money, it finally happened. The lake was dredged and on March 8, 1990 the lake was filled for the first time in years and it only took eight hours.
Looking back the Cronin’s remember the first Water over the Dam Days after the lake was filled. Tom said, “I was cutting wood and got sand fleas during Water over the Dam Days one year.”
Even though all the memories of past WODD celebrations were not the best they can sit back and reminisce about all the laughs they have had.
Watch for The Cronin’s in the annual parade when they will be showing their Nashua pride as this year’s Grand Marshalls.